EarthMan

EarthMan is a
performance piece which allows the viewer to consider our global biosphere on a
human scale. The Texas-based artist, Dion Laurent, blends art & science by
appearing in public places wearing a fully-functioning, self-sustaining suit
conceptually capable of maintaining a human in otherwise unlivable environments
on earth or even in outer space.

The EarthMan suit consists of
a solar-powered system including fans, air ducts, lights, terrarium and plants
that reproduces the symbiotic relationship between humans and plants through the
exchange of CO2 and oxygen. This bio exchange system
vents the CO2 human exhaust
from the helmet and suit to the Air Terrarium
Backpack, thus feeding the plants the necessary CO2 gas necessary for their
survival. In unison, the fan andair duct system delivers the oxygenated air of
the terrarium to the suit and helmet of EarthMan, supplying
the oxygen necessary for human survival, thus creating
a simple biosphere exchange system similar to that of
Planet Earth.

EarthMan and AirPort and related Self Sustaining Emergency Shelter
Projects by Dion Laurent are
dedicated to Advanced Life Support Systems (ALSS) and Bio-regenerative Life
Support research. Conceptually, If we continue to destroy our natural
environment on Earth, it may be necessary for all humans to wear such an
EarthMan suit, much as humans must wear a space suit to travel outside of our
atmosphere, or to seek sustainable life on Earth in Self-Sustaining Emergency
Shelter Projects .